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The Ohio Baptist Educational Society (OBES) is pleased to announce the establishment of the Rev. Robert E. and Gladys G. Ernst Scholarship (Ernst Scholarship). The Ernst Scholarship will be endowed by the family and friends of Rev. and Mrs. Robert E. Ernst in honor of their fifty-plus years of service to Baptist churches throughout Ohio.
Since 1953, Rev. Ernst has served in almost forty Ohio Baptist churches not only in full-time and interim ministerial capacities, but also as an evangelist and as a guest pastor for shorter time periods. In addition to individual churches, Rev. Ernst was very active at all levels of the Ohio Baptist Convention, holding numerous management positions including Trustee and Executive Committee member. Other areas of community service include three decades of activities with the Boy Scouts of America, Director of the Erie Bible Club summer camps for approximately ten years, several years as Chaplain of the Ohio Defense Corps in Ashtabula and participation in public education and local hospitals as a PTA board member and Chaplain, respectively.

The Ernsts’ ministry has been a true “team effort”. Mrs. Ernst has been a vital part of her husband’s ministry through her companionship and musical talent. They ministered together to congregations and communities through church activities and a strong commitment to home and hospital visitation programs. Together they have brought the word of God to their congregations through the spoken word, piano and organ music and songs of praise throughout their married life.

The Ernst Scholarship, in the amount of $1,000 to $1,500, will be offered annually, funded by the Ernst family and awarded by the OBES according to guidelines set forth in Article II of the OBES By-Laws, with one exception. The scholarship will be awarded to current ABC/Ordained pastors of American Baptist Churches in Ohio who are pursuing post-graduate ministry degrees such as Master or Doctor of Divinity either at accredited institutions or through a college or seminary extension program.

Inquiries regarding the application process for an Ernst Scholarship should be directed to:
The Ohio Baptist Education Society
647 South Diamond St.
Mansfield, Oh 44907
or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

All contributions to the Ernst Scholarship will be added to the OBES endowment fund. Contributions should be made payable to The Ohio Baptist Education Society, designated for the “Ernst Scholarship” and mailed to:

The Ohio Baptist Education Society
P.O. Box 0288
Granville, Oh 43023

Scholarship donations are tax deductible to the extent the law allows.